-10- 



THE P RESENT SITUATION IN THE FRUIT BUSIHESS 



Y^here soil and site are favorable there is reason to be optimistic 

 about fruit growing in Massachusetts, although the v/ar years have left many- 

 fruit enterprises in a "dovm at the heel" crondition. Shortcuts and neglects 

 have created problems which need prompt attention. The short apple crop of 

 1945 resulted in a greatly curtailed spray prograia in many orchards, with a 

 resulting buildup of apple maggot, curculio, codling moth, and apple scab. 

 This condition must be faced next spring if the prospective bumper crop is to 

 be brought through in good condition. Labor has been scarce and many growers 

 have done only enough to "get by". A few growers have done remarkably v;ell, 

 however, in overcoming handicaps and are entering the postwar period with very 

 promising prospects. High prices during the past three years have brought a 

 decided decline in apple grading. It might be said that grading no longer 

 exists in this state since the most mediocre type of fruit is likely to sell 

 at the coiling price. This condition cannot continue. 



■"iniile orchards have grown older, nev/ plantings have not kept pace 

 with orchard decline. Yh are not planting a quarter as many trees as are need- 

 ed in commercial orchards to maintain plantings on a proper age basis. It is 

 not a question of nevfcomers planting fruit trees, but rather of already estab- 

 lished growers rejuvenating their present plantings by cutting out older blocks 

 and planting new ones. The tovm of Kardwick which 35 years ago was an important 

 apple export town is an excellent example of what happens when apple growers 

 fail to plant trees. A shortage of good nursery stock at a reasonable price 

 is partially responsible for the failure of growers to replant. 



The spring of 1945 v/ith its frost on April 23, teaches an important 

 lesson as regards future plantings. Favorable sites, that is, areas relatively 

 high with respect to the immediately surrounding country, must be selected for 

 future plantings and varieties must be so distributed as to provide nearby 

 pollinizers for the Mcintosh variety. All over Massachusetts we have observed 

 cases this season where Mcintosh trees next to good pollinizers have borne a 

 good crop while trees more distant from pollinizers bore only a scanty crop. 

 Bee flight was so limited last spring as to emphasize the need for nearby pol- 

 linizers. On most fruit farms there has been a tendency to plant open fields 

 with little or no regard to air drainage. This practice must be discontinued. 

 Numerous orchards nay be cited in v;hich a particular block bears only now and 

 then because of frost damage, while other blocks are bearing 500 bushels of 

 apples per acre per year. Selection of soil and site for future plantings arc 

 of utmost iiiiportance. 



During the past two or three years at least 50 commercial apple grow- 

 ers in Massachusetts have made a start in the removal of crowding filler trees, 

 or in the removal of older blocks of trees. This practice should continue, 

 since many of our applo orchards are now in the 30 to 40 year class where se- 

 vere crowding is apparent. The apple business would be on a firmer basis if 

 every commercial grower vrere to follow the example of a few of th" more pro- 

 gressive growers. Removal of older trees and crowding trees as well as unwant- 

 ed varieties, and planting of young trees on good .soils and sites by grov/era 

 now in the business, are strongly recommended. 



